google play store rejected my app due to sms permission [closed]

Question

i removed sms permission from manifest but playstore not accepting my app manifest set only readsms permission. but playstore rejected this app i am getting this mail from play store

The declared functionality Default SMS handler (and any other core functionality usage while default handler) is determined to be unnecessary or not aligned with the core functionality of your app.Under the SMS / Call Log policy only apps with specific core functionalities are eligible to request SMS / Call Log permissions. For the list of eligible core functionalities refer to this Help Center article.You can come into compliance by either removing the permission from your app or revising your app so that its core functionality (through in-app experience and meta data in Store listing) aligns with the eligible cases. Default handler capability was listed on your declaration form, but your app has no default handler capability.

mainfest permission

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_CONTACTS" />
    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_SMS" />

please help me to solve this problem

Answer 1

According to google "You may only request permissions that are necessary to implement critical current features or services in your application. You may not use permissions that give access to user or device data for undisclosed, unimplemented, or disallowed features or purposes".

Click Here To Read Official Google Permission Doc

If your app need to read sms for SMS-based user verification / OTP verification please use SMS Retriever API which does not needed any sms permission and your app can still read SMS for OTP verification.

Answer 2

I also had this problem, I removed sms permissions in manifest,I tried whole day its rejected again and again, so I deleted all part of the code and I published only splash screen and login page, so my app is successfully published, and I updated my full project in next version, my application is live now.